Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Football is Coming

A little over a month ago, our long time renter moved out. It was time. We'd been sharing a house with her since 2011, and at the four year mark we'd found the space too small for all of us. The quirks we found endearing about each other for the first year or so turned out to be annoying in the end. It's the way of things. But we parted as friends. She still comes over on Sundays to hang out, catch up, and play board games.

Oddly, I don't mind missing out on the $400 of rental income. I know this makes me seem like a rich jerk, but we make enough that we don't really need the money. Especially since we have the mortgage paid off, the rent was always seen as 'extra'.
But I do miss having someone pay a third of our utilities, because now all the bills, the water and trash and electricity, seem more expensive. Anchoring is at work here: we're used to a certain price, and are irrationally using it as a reference point. Now the internet is a full $30 per month instead of the $20 we were paying. Electricity is $100 instead of $67. The one that really hurts is DirecTV, since it's truly just a luxury, and was coming in at between $50 and $60, even after negotiating hard with these guys every year or so.

So, we cancelled our DirecTV. Like so many other hip kids, we're getting by without the tether of cable or satellite TV, and are just watching Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Prime. We only pay for the Prime ($49 per year with the student rate), as our old renter is nice enough to let us keep sharing her Netflix and Hulu log ons.

It's a pretty sweet deal. Between the three streaming options and our little HD antenna, we've got more than enough shows and movies to keep us entertained all year long, and at only four bucks a month.

But football is coming, and there is no acceptable substitute for the NFL Sunday Ticket, complete with the RedZone channel which shows every touchdown in brilliant high definition, and Game Rewind, which lets you watch an entire game in 30 minutes. I get excited just thinking of it. You see, dropping money on the NFL is my only vice.

I just am not going to miss out on Steelers football. Since moving away from Western PA in 1999, my obsession with the team has grown every year. Part of it is feeling like the team is my connection to the city: a way to show I'm still a yinzer at heart. Except for those couple weeks I was in Peru and Ecuador last year, I haven't missed a game in fifteen years. And I'm not starting now.

So, as I always do with tough decisions, I'm going to poll the smartest people I know, my readers, and let you make the decision for me.

Option One: Paying for DirecTV

This option allows me to watch in the comfort of my own home, eating my own food and drinking my own beer. By far the most convenient option, and the one we've used for most years.

There's no cost for the Sunday Ticket as "new" customers (Mrs. Done by Forty will call in), and we found a deal where we get 25,000 American Airline miles for signing up (62% of a roundtrip flight to Europe), but we do have to pay for DirecTV for two years. Roughly $62 per month the first year (when factoring in the $15 DVR cost per month, and $6 for the receiver), then the price goes up to $92 the second year. Though we likely will be able to negotiate this down in year two.

Average annual cost: $924 ($77/month). Possible higher cost in year two, if I can't negotiate the Sunday Ticket for free.

Option Two: NFL Game Rewind

Definitely the cheapest option of the bunch, this allows us to watch all the NFL games...but they're not available to watch until the day after the game is played.

And there's the rub. It's impossible to avoid the scores for a full 24 hours, with how connected we all are these days. Heck, just watching the live game via my antenna, or talking with co-workers on Monday, or keeping track of my fantasy football team, is going to let me know the Steelers' score.

Still, it's an intriguing option as it's so cheap. If I can be a complete hermit on Sundays and avoid any work calls on Monday, there's a puncher's chance it could work. But I imagine a lot of excruciating Sundays, knowing football is happening live and I cannot watch it.

Total annual cost: $40

Option Three: The Bar

Being in my mid-thirties, the bar doesn't have the same appeal as it used to. I remember turning 21 in San Diego and being thrilled with the idea that I was allowed to drink beer at 10 a.m. while getting to watch the Steelers. Now, I have to drink beer, in public, at 10 am if I want to watch the Steelers. Perspective.

As a game lasts over three hours, figure a bar tab of $30 per game with sixteen games.

Total annual cost: $480...but that comes with beer and chicken wings.

What do you say, wise readers? Vote in the poll below, or just leave a comment.

53 comments:

I just don't see you cutting football and watching it the next day. Maybe you can cut elsewhere. Have you checked AAA for deals? I think they have a partnership with Direct TV. Also, there's a Direct TV referral program that offers discounts. Surely one of your readers is a subscriber!

Yeah, the Game Rewind option is by far the most frugal but I wonder if it's really a solution. I might end up going to the bar anyway, instead of trying to wait out the 24 hours.

The other thing I could do is simply watch whatever game is on the air, inevitably find out who won the Steelers game, then watch the next day anyway. That might be a special kind of torture, but who knows.

I voted for the bar : ) This is the same conversation my husband and I have every six months when we discuss-cutting the cord. It would only save us about $60 a month and my hard working husband loves sports so much that it's hard to drop it. He always says if he does he will go to a bar and watch the game. Eventually, sports will be more accessible for the cord cutters and we are waiting for that sweet day.

NFL Game Rewind basically seems worthless. For whatever reason I find it impossible to watch sports after they happen. Actually NFL Game Rewind would only be valuable to someone who is a hardcore DFS player who likes to look at film, but there are other options for that.

The bar is "okay" imo but I sometimes like to do things during football games (blogging, for one) so I wouldn't want to be stuck at the bar for 3+ hours. NFL Sunday Ticket is the solution imo. It's a lot of money but honestly you seem to value it, so it's worth it.

TV services get a bad wrap on most PF sites and often with good reason but if you are only paying $77 for something you truly value then it's good value. Who cares what other people's opinions on that are? I'm not interested in NFL enough to pay to watch but I love watching golf so I'd consider paying for that if it came down to it.

Some people are spending $150+ for full package TV services, 95% of which they probably never watch so $77 seems fair enough to me.

TV service is making a comeback in the voting. I'm a bit surprised with that, given how frugal I assume the readers are.

Thanks for the support, FIREstarter. I've always thought TV service was some of the best value out there (you get a month worth of crazy good entertainment for the cost of one nice date night). But there really are some cheap alternatives that do the trick, too.

We went without Direct TV for the last 2 years after having it for almost 5 years. I loved the NFL Sunday ticket and am stoked to have it back again! I got it free just for "not being a customer for 2 years" when I recently switched back.

You could also try and get the direct TV streaming service ($200-$300) - but online it's pretty limited as to who is allowed to get it. You just have to hope you get the "cool" customer service person that might bend the rules if you don't qualify.

Thanks Mr. SSC. I'll have to look in to the DirecTV streaming options.

Another way we could go is to simply ask our relatives who have DirecTV if they'd share their log in with us. We could throw them a few bucks and then stream the games (and, I guess, whatever shows they have for streaming on the computer). Kind of dishonest, but no more so than what we're doing with Netflix.

- Does your favorite team have realistic playoff chances?* If no, get NFL Game rewind. It's actually pretty good although it used to be $25.* If yes, are you living in your favorite team's TV coverage area?- If yes, go to a bar- If no, get DirectTV

Signed: A displaced Seahawks fan who used network and NFL Game Rewind to watch every game 2 years ago and DirectTV last year (which I guess makes the argument that DirectTV is also a jinx).

I cut TV (Dish Network) mid-June. It's nice to have it gone now and not have that $48 bill each month. I don't even miss it, but then again I'm not a sports fan. I watch my shows on Netflix and Hulu now, and the one that I can't get via those methods I simply stream online via the TV network's website. I'm so glad I finally cancelled TV.

I actually voted for the most expensive option, only because you rock your money more than most people I know. If it's truly your one huge pleasure, and its in your budget and you are saving for your future goals, why not? Do you maybe have friends who might want to come over to help pay for some of it? If not, no biggie. Or maybe they could just throw in for the food and you provide the football?

I typically don't invite people over for the games because, when the Steelers lose, I am a bear to deal with for the next few hours. It's best if I'm alone. We had people over for the Jets game last year, one I was sure the Steelers would win, and I could tell people were not loving my reaction. :)

Thanks for the kind words, too! I actually feel like we're pretty mediocre when it comes to managing our spending, at least compared to some of the really incredible bloggers out there who will be FI in their early thirties. But it's all a matter of perspective, I guess. I'm sure we're doing fine. :)

Ha, bar got my vote at "beer and chicken wings." And I see I am not alone :) I tend to agree with Tonya, though. If you're doing well financially, your budget allows for it, and it's only one of two vices, why not splurge all the way? If you're trying to better manage your spending, you could look for trade-offs in other budget categories to make up for the added expense?

Our budget is shameful in a lot of regards (way too much on restaurants and date nights, compared to my frugal compatriots) but we still invest about 70-80% of our income due to no longer having real housing costs. We can definitely afford the subscription, but wonder if there's a better way to skin that cat. :)

If you're up for it, you could hide your VPN and purchase NFL Game Pass. This website has the instructions on how to do it. Otherwise, going with the old HD Antenna isn't so bad, you can usually get 2 or 3 games each Sunday. For Monday night games on ESPN (if it's a game you want to watch), get a Wild Wings gift card on the cheap at Raise.com and head out--it's more fun and it's only a few times a year.

I would definitely go ahead and just pay the full price. You clearly value it very highly, so to me that makes it very simple, and then save yourself the time and mental energy of mulling over different options and trying to get too fancy. Just focus on enjoying it once the football starts!

I've been the opposite...I am a big Giants fan and would rarely miss a game, but as I've gotten older and with more obligations as well as a little one...it's not a big deal when I miss a game. Funny that you made the "rich jerk" comment...because I felt that way about myself recently. When I was thinking of a purchase, I said what the hell...I can afford it...then my frugal side kept saying "rich jerk!" Hey you're mortgage is paid, you have an extraordinary savings rate...if watching the Steelers bring you joy then just splurge on it. And how about option 4...become a Cardinals fan and watch on free TV!

I voted for the bar because Steelers fans are too subtle in their love of their favorite team, and I think that everyone should have the opportunity for you to wax poetically about which team you deem to be superior to all the others. Additionally, after evangelizing Steeler Nation, the bar is sure to start carrying chipped ham and pierogies, and your bar mates are sure to value your insights on the correct pronunciation of "Carnegie". Additionally, even if you end up sober cabbing, the bar will carry some pops for you to drink.

Hannah, you have officially left the most yinzer comment this poor blog has ever seen. Chipped ham...there is not nearly enough of it in my life. I try explaining how thin to cut it to the deli guy, and they never get it right. Thinner, buddy.

I unfortunately lost my accent somewhere in San Diego, but it'll come back a little when I go back home. I listen to the Dave Dameshek podcast just to hear what it supposed to sound like. :)

I have to agree with everyone saying option #1 because you value it so much. Not missing a single game in that many years is dedication! You're going to get your money's worth. It stinks to have to pay that much, but it is (sadly?) the most convenient option. I don't blame you for not wanting to go to the bar every time you want to watch a game, and while I'm not a big sports fan, watching games live is certainly part of the appeal.

You can handle the price and I agree with Tonya - you guys manage your money well enough to afford the splurge! Your happiness matters, and if you're going to be the most happy sitting at home watching the game from your couch, then do it. I would definitely negotiate as best as possible and see if there are any discounts available, though (which I know you will!).

Ha! Yes, I always at least try to negotiate. I have the advantage in the long run as they can say "no" a hundred times, and only have to say "yes" once for me to win.

Now that I think of it, that's how I got Mrs. Done by Forty to marry me.

I did miss that one game when I was down in South America, but it was a heartbreaker: the last second loss to the Ravens, on Thanksgiving, I think. So in the end, probably a good one to miss out on. :)

The Steelers really do bring me happiness (mixed in with anguish, of course). Nothing feels quite like the anticipation of a new season, and the feeling like they can contend. I suppose sports are just a distraction from real life, but they're the best kind of distraction.

I'm a complete hermit, and I really can't see avoiding the results. At least, if you have any friends on social media who also like sports. Heck, I can't even go on Twitter some nights without having my next-day Hulu watching ruined!

There is a 4th option that I almost did last year as the NFL ticket and Directv got smarter, but it involves borrowing.

2 years ago, you could log in with a friend's password(because they are sitting right next to you during the game of course) and watch the games I wanted to watch on my computer/connection to my TV. They got smarter and took this option away and started charging $200 for NFL ticket and $300 for NFL ticket Max which is internet login capability, which means that if you were to have a friend visit and use his password you could essentially get this service for $100 per year.

I'm voting for the bar, as a sports fan I don't think you will be able to watch the games not live. Especially if you do fantasy football or anything like that you will be bound to find spoilers. My favorite sports are hockey and basketball though, so not nearly as feasible with as football where you only have a game once a week.

Also if it's something you really value I would just go with DirecTV. You might get some other value out of having TV in general too.

Personally, I just have Netflix and borrow DVDs from the library, BUT if you have solid value in Direct that you can't get another way then it's not a fantastic splurge.

Also, I wonder since I know almost nothing about football, but isn't it seasonal? I've known people who buy cable for just the few months of the year that their sport is playing and cancel it the rest of the time. It's a pretty significant savings if you can do it that way.

Haha I love the perspective. I voted bar, because you're likely to get some camaraderie out of it. And it's the cheapest, of course. Ironically, this was the hardest thing about cutting cable for us, too. We still get Steelers games here, but no Pirates games. Or hardly any. And I loved them when they sucked. Now that they're amazing it's making things worse. The husband listens to hockey on the radio. Like he bought a crank radio just for hockey. I don't care about hockey, which makes me a bad Pittsburgher. But, hey.

The Pirates turn around is the craziest sports trend of my lifetime. I actually consider myself a baseball widower, because the Pirates and MLB as a whole is just dead to me. I watched growing up and was in 7th grade the last time the Pirates had a winning season for something like 16 years. After the first decade or so I just asked myself why I was subjecting myself to this, and turned away.

I'll still watch a game now and again but feel like going back to the team now would be weird.

Pittsburghers listenng on the radio is one of my favorite quirks of the city. I remember going to Steeler games as a kid and seeing people with radio headphones, just so they could listen to the KDKA broadcast.

Without a doubt football is one of my greatest vices. I always opt for NFL Redzone each season and dedicate my Sundays to beer, wings and football. No matter how frugal of a lifestyle you lead don't cut out those things that make you truly happy.

You can afford anything, but you can't afford everything. It sounds like football might be your passion. If that's truly the case, spend big on the best possible experience and look to cut ruthlessly in areas of life that don't matter.

For example, we don't have subscription TV services at all, but every month or two the wife and I will drop over $100 on a night of fine dining. Going to Crapplebee's or something would be more frugal but would defeat the purpose.

I love that quote from Paula Pant! One of the best in personal finance.

Agreed on your comment about dining, or any other experience that matters. You need to create really great experiences in the areas you care about. A dozen mediocre ones don't cut it, and you don't remember any of them anyway.

I really enjoy simply reading all of your weblogs. Simply wanted to inform you that you have people like me who appreciate your work. Definitely a great post. Hats off to you ! The information that you have provided is very helpful. www.nflgambling.info

Disclaimer: This blog is written for entertainment purposes only: not to give advice. I'm just some dude on the internet, and one without a whole lot of credentials. It's a good idea to consult with professional before making investment, tax, or financial decisions.